Hello Loves!  Classes for all levels had been suspended today due to the bad weather condition in Metro Manila.  Some private companies had already suspended work shifts, like hubby's and mine.  Thank God!

This weather...I've been seeing friends' posts and updates on Facebook and their areas are already flooded and had entered their homes.  I do hope everyone's safe.

All I hear is raindrops, falling from the rooftop... Buhas na ulan... Raindrops keep falling on my head. =)

Anyway, our company advised us that we could either file for a leave or take the work-from-home option.  Of course, sayang ang leave, actually ubos na, so work-from-home status tayo muthers!

My workstation at home with a cup of coffee to keep me up on a gloomy weather.

While reading my emails, I came across one of our internal advisories which is very informative and helpful to all of you as well.  Allow me to share with you What To do Before and During An Emergency:



So ayan, I do hope that you're all safe.  Iwasan na lang nating lumabas loves.  Remember, prevention is always better than cure.  So Handa-handa tayo sa mga disasters loves ha, all the time!  Hindi na pwede yung "Pag May Time" na line eh! :)

Hi there loves!  I can't sleep actually for two main reasons: 1) It's still raining and I'm quite worried ; 2) may mobile or disco na nagaganap sa kapitbahay namin who is still very much into the Fiesta mood.   Oh yes, Fiesta sa amin loves but seems not like it because of the "bed" weather.

Because it was raining heaps all day this weekend,  we decided to stay home for two days.   It's quite unusual that we didn't go out as a family at least a day in the weekend. I missed the Babypalooza Bazaar as well as the Mommy Mundo Clearance Sale, how unlucky talaga.   Last Saturday though, hubby and I had "work" as performers at Luxent Hotel in Quezon City.

Here was my  gig #OOTD pala muna :

Gig #OOTD Blue dress from Uni-Top Mall (Divi-price)

Mandatoy #Selfie during the set! hahaha!

My good looking bandmates, Uriel (guitarist/vocals) and Macky (si hubby ang percussionist)

Pinakbet

Steamed Cream Dory with Oyster Sauce topped with fried garlic

Eh since nga walang masyadong magawa because it was raining the whole day, of course, masarap kumain!  So, for merienda our guilty pleasures were answered.  Lucky Me Pancit Canton na ito and of course I cooked some Maya Pancakes with Eden Cheese too.  We used Clara Ole Maple Pancake Syrup.

Full merienda in the house!

Each Saturday gig, I have to start preparing myself (the hair and getting dressed) by 5pm, so meaning by 4pm dapat naka-ligo na ako and all.  That's also the reason why I couldn't attend too many blogging events nor workshops by Martine de Luna scheduled on a Saturday because of our gig prep sched.

Since I've been eating almost all day last Saturday, at Luxent Hotel, although it's international dinner buffet, I chose to eat lighter than usual.  I had green salad with roll, carrot and potato soup, herbed chicken and pineapple juice to go along with all those.

Fresh green salad with balsamic vinegar and dinner roll

There's Lechon or roast pig every weekend at Luxent Hotel's dinner buffet.  For the last 3 to 4 months, I've been eating this every weekened and it's the  main culprit why my visceral fats increased to an above normal level.  Which is not good, so I'm proud to say that I was able to resist this (with all my might) even if it was calling my name!!!

Crispy lechon, calling my name, I just ignored it, with tears in my eyes. lol

Pesto Chicken Kebab

Ebi Tempura

Brewed Coffee by illy and a piece of yummy choco cookie

Palitaw with Sugar and Sesame seeds

Suman and Kutsinta

The different Pagoda Lotion expressions of myself.  Pagbigyan niyo na ako. :)

Good morning loves!

What great way to start the day than to give all of you a great news!   As you may all know I've hosted  a  Giveaway  for Babypalooza Bazaar and The Fawne Shoppe.

I don't want to excite you further muthers!   Here it is, the lucky winner of the giveaway!

Congratulations to:



The Babypalooza Team will email you to ask for your shipping details.  Your prizes from The Fawne Shoppe will be sent to you.

To everyone who participated, thank you for joining!  Watch for more giveaways!

Happy weekend loves!

Hello Muthers and Futhers! :)

I'm launching a chronicle of my conversations and what have yous with my toddler Wes, whom we fondly call Baby Wes or Wessie.  I call it Hashtag Words With Witty Wessie or #WordsWithWittyWessie

I noticed lang kasi loves, he's growing up really fast and even if he's bulol, he's so talkative and expresses himself quite bulol-fluently.  Hahaha! Kagulows dun.  Kaya super nakakatuwa siya ngayon.


Here are some of my funny conversations with my 2 year old toddler...

1. Saying PO and OPO. Isn't it music to the ears when you still hear PO and OPO from the children?  It does to me, always!  It shows respect for the elderly, plus only in the Philippines will you hear children say these words.
2. Pag-mamano. - Like saying po and opo, keeping the Filipino custom and tradition of "Pagmamano" is also showing respect for the elderly.  I still want to instill this to my children.  Even if I feel old when they do it, hehehe, okay lang.  They do this when we're in a family gathering, after hearing mass and especially during Christmas season while singing "Mano po Ninong, Mano po Ninang."

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3. Saying Please. I don't give them what they want to reach or get if they don't say please.  It's teaching them how to be polite to others.
4. Saying Thank You.  When they receive something, anything whether they like it or not, OR when a favor was done for them, saying Thank You goes a long way.  It teaches them how to appreciate effort and time of other people and it brings joy to the other person when he or she is acknowledged.
5. Saying You're Welcome.  I don't hear this too often anymore among children, but I do encourage my kids to still say "You're Welcome" to people who thanked them.  It's also acknowledging the appreciation of the other person.

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6. Saying Sorry. When they hurt another person whether intentionally or better if  unintentionally, saying Sorry will make things better.  
7. Saying Excuse Me or Pardon Me. Say Excuse Me when passing through between people, when sneezing or coughing, when you want to speak up, saying excuse me is a must.  It will be rude not say so.  Pardon Me/I beg your pardon is when you want the other person you're speaking with to repeat what he/she said.
8. Not to Interrupt When One is Talking. It is rude to start talking or do something while someone is talking.  This teaches listening skills, comprehension, respect for the person talking and open communication which will help our children in interacting with other people until they become adults.

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9. Never Say Bad Words.  I don't think any parents would want to hear bad words from their children right?
10. Take Turns or Wait for Your Turn. As early as they can already interact with other kids through play, I teach them not to just grab the toy which the other is playing.  I tell them to wait for their turn and that they could take turns.  For toddlers this could be quite challenging but it takes a lot of patience to instill this manner.  
11. Opening Doors or Giving Up Seats For Women/Elderly. This is teaching my boys how to respect the elderly and the women in our society.  It's teaching them how to be real gentlemen.  When I commute and take a chance at riding a full-packed MRT you won't see too many gentlemen anymore.  If I'm seated and I see a Lolo or a Lola, I would give up my seat for them.  The guy beside me was insensitive and plain oblivious.

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12. Giving gifts during occasions. Although sometimes we could be budget constricted, I still give value to the person celebrating a birthday or remembering one during Christmas.  I want to teach my children the value of giving and not always expect something in return.  It feels good to give and make someone happy.  It need not to be expensive, what's important is the thought.
13. Writing a Card/Letter.  As early as my elder son could draw and write, I taught him how to make a greeting card.  Receiving a hand-written letter/card is almost rare nowadays.  I want my little gentlemen to make effort in writing a card or letter for someone especially during special occasions.  I have a stack of my son's letters/cards.  I kept them all!  
    
    
    
14. Wash hands.  This could be considered a value for them, it simply means keeping hands clean before and after eating or after coming from the restroom.  They will never know who they will be shaking hands with right?  We especially don't want them to get infected by germs from dirty hands.
15. Don't Talk When Mouth is Full. It's disturbing to see one talking with food in his/her mouth.  It's impolite plus it could get messy too.  When one talks while chewing, there's a tendency that the chewed food might accidentally get out of the mouth which may cause spreading of virus should he have colds or cough.  Finish chewing before talking.  It's not a pleasant sight to see the food you are chewing right?
16. Chew Quietly. Table manners say in most countries say, we should make no noise when chewing.  Better when mouth is closed when chewing too.  
17. Get only what you can finish.  When dining in or out and there's food on the table, they should just get serving which they can finish.  It's better to get small portions and come back for more, than get more all at once and have left-overs.  It's teaching them not to be greedy too. 

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18. Cover Mouth When Sneezing/Coughing.  To avoid spreading the virus, I teach my children to cover their mouths when sneezing and coughing.  It's also being considerate of the people around you.
19. Finish What You Started.  When doing anything like art, drawing, eating or any project, it's important to teach the value of not leaving things unfinished.  They will bring this when they are already adults to be applied at work projects or even in relationships.
20. Close What You Opened. As simple as closing the door, the closet, the drawers the lights when not in use anymore is 
21. Return What You Borrowed.  I really do not encourage borrowing.  But just in case there will be a need, then it's important to return it.  Let's say books from the library, I remind my son to return it to the library and it should be on time to avoid any penalty.
22. Always Be Truthful.  I cannot tolerate lying, super.  I couldn't stress how important it is to teach our children not to lie nor steal.  I'm sure alam nyo na yun. :)

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    Always Do Your Best.  We sometimes tend to push our children too hard especially when it comes to academics.  But my number one rule is to Always Do Your Best.  Because when our children do your best, they will feel proud about what they did.  People noticing their performance in whichever field, will come next.  
24. Be A Good Sport. In life, we do not always win.  That's the reality.  It's important to teach our children to be good sports should there be instances that they lose in games or sports or a competition.  What's important is again, #23. :)
25. Never Cheat.  As much as we want our children to be number one or to win, we should teach them to do #23 and not to do dirty tricks or illegal things just to be on top or just to win.  Besides, cheating then winning will never make them feel like a genuine winner at all.
26. Respect and Never Make Fun of Others.  Each child is unique and different from each other.  Some are even more special by having physical or mental challenges or differences.  Let's teach them to accept the uniqueness of others, respect and not to make fun of them because they are also children of God.
27. There's TIME for Everything.  Time is gold and this is what I say to my elder son always. There's time for everything, like time to pray, eat, play, study, watch TV.  I'm teaching him simple time management.  Also how to respect other people's time by being on time.  For when in the future he becomes a businessman or an employee in a good company, being punctual is definitely plus points.

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28. Learn To Share.  Sharing what they have, like cookies and toys, will always be good, especially if they have extra.  
29. Never Hit.  I don't want my boys to grow up as batterers, who would want that?  I don't even want them to be basaguleros just to get what they want.  I tell them that hitting is not good because it hurts another person.  Also, I'm not a spanking/hitting kind of parent when it comes to disciplining.  I see the value in effective and loving communication to get my messages across.  
30. Never break Promises.  When my son commits mistakes here and there and promises me he'll be better or not do it anymore, I always explain to him what a PROMISE means.  A promise is a commitment or a vow you made which at all costs, should be done and never be broken.  It's important in human relationships as well.  That's why as a parent I am very careful with my promises.  Whenever I promise something, I really keep and fulfill them.

Hello Moms, whether you're working or not, here's to share some facts about us! :)  When I saw this, super relate talaga ako! Kasi it's SOOOO ME!!! :)  Here it is, What It's L:ike To Be A Working MOM!

Source: The Ladders.Com

Eto naman mga muthers, if we are to be paid for our SPECIAL job as a MOM, we would be paid more than a CEO of a company.  This infographic computed our salary in pounds, so convert it to peso na lang!  Here it is, The Job Of A Mom:

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Lastly, since you are reading my blog and getting updates on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Bloglovin' then you're living the digital age.  We've shifted to the digital scene already and for some that makes us COOL daw. :)  I'm sure you'll also relate to this one:

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Hello loves!  How was your long weekend?  Ours was not that busy because I have to review my son for his first periodical exam.   I missed several VTRs for TV commercials because I  had to prioritize this.

But we still went to church earlier and the mall to do the groceries.   Earlier, my toddler was sporting this outfit:

Hello mga loves!  As a working mom, we tend to be so OC at times and make sure that everything turns out well at home and at work, day in and day out right?  We also do so many things everyday and most of the time we multi-task!  We do the roles of being a Mom and a Wife in the morning.  Throughout the day we are a Career Woman and a Raketera too.  When we go home, we are a Mom, a wife at night doing tumblings and circus (hehehe!), and then a mom again to a toddler who wakes you up 3 to 4 times for milk (every night yan ha!)  STRESS diba?

That's why, ganito minsan and itsura natin:

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 But most of the time, ganito talaga ang itsura natin:

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Hahaha!  Kakaloka noh?  Oh well, seriously now, to help ease the stress, we breath in and out deeply to clear the our thoughts and clear the air.

We all know that sometimes unfortunate things happen beyond our controls.  What do you do?  How do you cope with it?  How do you react to it?

Here's a QUICK and EFFECTIVE tip how to REDUCE STRESS:

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JOKE LANG.. baka gawin niyo. :)

On a personal note, most of my STRESS really comes from the workplace.  There are KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and deadlines to meet, there are clients to serve, there are bosses and colleagues to deal with, there are suppliers to follow up deliverables from and tons of challenges to overcome everyday.  STRESS ulit diba?  So how do I keep myself sane, ZEN and stress-free?

Here's what I do:

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Hahaha!  Comic relief!  Well, seriously, I think I can deal with stress quite smartly I'll tell you about it after sharing this wonderful infographic why Women are STRESSED OUT.

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1. Pray - I start my day by praying for a good day ahead.  Talking to God gives me inner peace.  I thank him for giving me another day and and to keep me and my loved ones safe.  
2. Kissing and Hugging - I looooove kissing and hugging my kids (lalo na hubby) so much!  Hugging gives me an instant pump and positive energies.   Great way to jumpstart my day!
3. Look Good - No matter how busy I could be, I try my best to look good everyday!  Syempre, kailangan maligo muna diba, then put on simple make-up and dress presentably.  More than looking good for others, I make an effort to look good for myself.  Looking good instantly boosts your self-confidence.  When you have self-confidence, you produce positive energies and kills the stress cells in our bodies!  But siyempre alam nating hindi tayo si Anne Curtis so, wag naman masyadong hambog na gandang ganda tayo sa sarili natin.  Baka magkaron pa tayo ng kaaway niyan.. lalong Stress Drillon ang labas. :)
4. Me-Time - If you're in the middle of a super duper stressful day, I recommend that you stand up from where you're seated.  Go out for a few minutes, look at beautiful things (window shopping at tyangges work for me)  On days when I have longer Me-Time time, I go to a salon for a manicure-pedicure or go to SPA with hubby for a mean massage!  Basta do something you love to eliminate stress from your body and whole being! :)
5. Ice Cream - Instant stress-buster for me is eating Ice cream or anything sweet like chocolate.  Yup, I do stress eat sometimes.  Makes me feel goood!
6. Move - They say when you go up or down the stairs, walk, run, or get into any physical activity at least once a week, you actually release hormones which are responsible for plenty of happy feelings.  We release Endorphines (makes you happy and block feelings of pain), Dopamine (pleasure chemicals responsible for orgasam - we like!) and Serotonin (more energy and clearer thinking) when we move or exercise.
7. Proper Time Management - If you are like me, a full-time Kuracha, then having propoer time management helps a lot so we won't be stressed with the different roles we play or hats we wear throughout the day.  It helps if you record your important schedules on your phone's calendar or a notebook to keep track of events in your life.  This way, you'll have time to prepare for it and not stress yourself panicking or doing last-minute errands.
8. Laugh or Smile Often - As I've said in one of my Facebook posts, a SMILE is a priceless accessory which a woman could wear anytime to make herself beautiful!  So smile often because it's also contagious.  Wag ka na sumimangot because bukod sa nakakapangit, nakakatanda rin!  Ayaw natin yun!  In laughing, please, LAUGH with a friend ha, mahirap if you're Laughing by yourself.  Alam na kung anong iisipin ng ibang tao.
9. Let Go or Forgive - This means a lot of things.  In short, wag ka nang bitter!  hehehe!  Joke, but I just simply mean, if you're feeling ill about your boss or a colleague, let go of that nega feeling and move on.  If you've been hurt before or nag-away kayo ni hubby, let go of your pride, forgive, kiss then make out.. ay make up pala! :)  Nakakawala ng stress and negative vibes yan!
10. Play - FAVORITE ko to!  When you go home to your family, leave your work at the work place and let your home be a play ground.  Super fun to play and laugh with the kids!  Tickle here and there, role playing, watching movie at home and be a kid all over again.  PLAY also applies with your hubby!  Yun another topic yun! :)

Few weeks ago, hubby and I were invited to watch a special movie screening of "Wolverine" by Watsons Men Zone.  I was thrilled that I said yes right away to the invitation because that would mean a date night for me and hubby.  Also, since it's a Watsons Men Zone event, it's a perfect event for hubby to attend to.  He's not much of an event-attendee person (because he likes organizing the events himself! hehe) that's why I really looked forward to the movie.

I made it just in time to the Wolverine special screening by Watsons Men Zone, Total Solutions for Men

Hubby with the Axe Apollo Crew

My turn with the crew

Each of the blogger attendee and their guest took home a hefty and bigtime loot bag from Watsons which were filled with products for hubby!!!  Look at this set of goodies!  Hubby got really excited and gave me a peck on the cheek (cheek lang muna haha!) for taking him there!

A full-packed loot bag from Watsons Men Zone, Total Solutions For Men which hubby got really so thrilled about! (Sample products from: Old Spice, Schick, Gatsby, Belo Men, Clear, Dove Men Care, Axe Apollo, Nivea Men, L'Oreal Men Expert, Vaseline Menface, and Adidas)

Let me tell you more about Watsons' Men Zone which now has Total Solutions For Men.

In this time of options and accessibility, anyone—and we mean anyone—can be #hunkmaterial. No longer is it excusable for men to look sloppy. The time of dapper dudes has finally come. They know exactly what they want and where to get only the best of what they need.  In comes the Watsons Men Zone, a one-stop shop that has anything and everything just for men.

Knowing that men hardly have the time and patience to scour through rows and rows for their grooming essentials, Watsons created the men zone. In Watsons, men’s grooming is quick, simple, and rewarding, and they house the best grooming products that’ll get men to look good and feel great.

The Male Check List
At Watsons, they not only know what’s best for women, but expanding their expertise to cover what’s best in male grooming maintaining to be a reputable and dependable store of overall health, beauty and wellness.

We always think that only women have beauty rituals, actually, our men also do!  Here's a quick check list and for all out hubby's needs, Watsons’ Men Zone has something to offer.

Watsons' Men Zone, Total Solutions For Men

For His Hair: Among these is Clear Men with cooling menthol that intensely cools and deeply nourishes the scalp.

For His Face:  
Oily and Acne Prone - facial washes, like Dove Men, which has a mild formula that thoroughly cleanses while effectively fighting dry skin, and Vaseline Men, which has the right amount of hydration for healthy, resilient skin.
Lighter Skin - Belo Men with DermWhite plus microbeads, which whitens and removes rough skin;Nivea Men, which is formulated with five natural ingredients for lighter, brighter skin; and L’Oréal Men Expert, a smoothing action formula that prevents the recurrence of acne marks and makes skin softer and brighter.

For Shaving/After-shaving - Gillette’s select razors guarantee a stubble-free face. And, paired with Schick’s Shave Guard Foam and Gels, the combo promises a smooth shaving glide.

For His Lips: Men can also get kissably soft with Watsons Men Moisturizing Lip Balm, infused with vitamin E and peppermint to moisturize lips and sweet almond oil to prevent dryness.

For his Underarm: Protection against sweat and odor, the best buys are the classic favorite Old Spice High Endurance, which offers high-performing odor protection; and Gatsby Aqua Deo, an innovative powder product from Japan that contains sweat and sebum-absorbing particles for lasting freshness.

To Keep Him Smelling Great: Watsons has a wide array of body sprays and men’s colognes that spell sexy and fresh. Adidas Ice Dive, a fresh scent for men who live the thrill of intense pleasures;Playboy New York Deo Spray, a scent designed for confident men; and Axe Apollo, a classically fragrance meant for heroes, are top favorites.

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With the grooming solutions available at the Watsons Men Zone, men can take the reins, be the men they want to be, and in turn, snag the women, life, and career they want. Now, who wouldn’t want that? Today’s men are geared, groomed, and ready to rule the world.

Know more about Watsons' new products and promos, follow them on Twitter: @watsonsph or like them on Facebook: facebook.com/WatsonsPH.